Новости за 21.02.2024

Moscow authorities have stirred controversy by banning the sale of 252 books under the guise of combating LGBTQ+ propaganda. Among the blacklisted titles are works by revered authors spanning generations, including Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Oscar Wilde, Haruki Murakami, and Stephen King. The shocking revelation, initially reported by journalist Alexander Plyushchev and later confirmed by Russian online book retailers, has sparked outrage and condemnation both domestically and internationally....

During the night, cloudiness will continue to break up and decrease, with clear skies over most of the country. A weak southerly wind will be present. Minimum temperatures will range between -2° and 3°, and -1° in Sofia....

"I will not sign the memorandum. Everything has its limits," announced Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel during an extraordinary briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as she rejected the proposed WCC-DB memorandum and accused its proponents of engaging in political maneuvering. Describing the WCC-DB memorandum as a thinly veiled attempt at political bargaining, Gabriel staunchly refused to lend her signature to the document put forth by "We Continue the Change - Democratic... Читать дальше...

In a sudden turn of events, the parliamentary group of GERB has decided to retract its proposed draft law aimed at abolishing indefinite identity cards, as observed on the website of the National Assembly. This decision comes less than a week after the introduction of amendments to the law on Bulgarian personal documents, which would have had significant implications for over 2 million Bulgarian citizens aged 58 and above, who are currently entitled to permanent identity cards. The withdrawal of... Читать дальше...

"There are many areas in which France and Bulgaria are becoming increasingly close, and which are based on the European project, such as European security and defense, energy, particularly nuclear energy, and the strengthening of European integration". This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron during a briefing at the Elysée Palace in Paris, together with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Nikolai Denkov. Macron congratulated Bulgaria and its government for the efforts made towards integrating... Читать дальше...

Despite efforts to curb pollution in Sofia's city center, not a single fine has been issued to vehicles violating the ban on entering the designated low-emission zone. Deputy Mayor for Ecology Nadezhda Bobcheva disclosed this concerning trend during the "Clean Mobility for Sofia" forum organized by the "For the Earth" association, as reported by Sega. Implemented on December 1 of the preceding year and set to expire on February 29, the ban targets vehicles emitting high levels of exhaust, aiming... Читать дальше...

Hamas has reported a significant increase in the number of Palestinian casualties amid ongoing diplomatic stalemates in efforts to secure a cease-fire and continued Israeli military operations beyond Gaza's borders. China has criticized the United States for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution that called for an immediate halt to the conflict in Gaza, labeling it as a signal for further bloodshed to continue. The proposal, put forth by Algeria, received support from 13 out of 15 council members... Читать дальше...

The Prosecutor's Office in Veliko Tarnovo is investigating the death of a 2-year-old child who died in the city's hospital. Initial data indicates that the child was admitted for treatment on February 20th and was discharged from the hospital after improvement and with the consent of the family on the same day. However, the child's condition significantly worsened overnight, and he was taken to the hospital's emergency department, where later passed away despite the efforts of the medical staff. Читать дальше...

The inspection in “Pirogov” conducted by the Agency for State Financial Inspection (ASFI), initiated by the Bulgarian Minister of Health, Professor Hinko Hinkov, has concluded. The medical institution reported that no evidence of committed crimes or abuses has been found. The audit report, with a volume of 93 pages, presents the complete examination of the hospital's activities for the period from the beginning of July 2022 to the end of July 2022. ...

During the annual Chief of Defence Conference, Bulgaria's Defence Chief Admiral Emil Eftimov underscored the significant challenges facing the Alliance and the democratic world, characterizing the current security environment as the most dangerous and unpredictable since the Cold War. Admiral Eftimov emphasized the critical need for investment in security, asserting that such investment is foundational to the functioning of all socio-economic sectors. He further stressed the importance of collective... Читать дальше...

Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov disclosed to reporters in Burgas that a highly active criminal group engaged in migrant trafficking has been dismantled. The operation led to the arrest of ten individuals, including the group's leader, with charges pending against them. Stoyanov underscored the group's significant activity in recent months but clarified that there is no evidence implicating Ministry of the Interior officials. ...

Syrian state television, as quoted by the Associated Press, reported that two individuals were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Damascus, with additional material damage reported. The strike, reportedly hitting a building near an Iranian school, caused casualties in an apartment within the building, although their identities remain undisclosed according to Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The impact resulted in damage to the fourth floor of a 10-story building... Читать дальше...

A recent survey conducted by "Trend" sheds light on concerning attitudes towards domestic violence among Bulgarians. The findings reveal that 40% of Bulgarians have acquaintances who are victims of domestic abuse, highlighting the pervasive nature of the issue within society. Shockingly, 18% of respondents believe there are situations where domestic violence is deserved, reflecting a disturbing normalization of harmful behavior. ...

The young Bulgarian actress Margarita Stoykova was honored with an award for emerging star at the Berlinale Film Festival. She is known for her leading role in Yana Titova's film “Diada”, and is among the 10 top Young European actors. The excellence is by the program“Shooting Stars”, by the European Film Promotion (EFP). ...

The Bulgarian Parliament has voted to amend citizenship laws, making proficiency in the Bulgarian language a prerequisite for obtaining citizenship. The amendment, proposed by the Council of Ministers, received overwhelming support with 154 votes in favor and 22 abstentions during the first reading. Under the new legislation, individuals applying for Bulgarian citizenship based on Bulgarian origin or through a parent who acquired citizenship will be required to demonstrate fluency in the Bulgarian... Читать дальше...

According to a sociological study by Market Links from 2023, just over two-thirds of Bulgarian citizens believe that Bulgaria should support the gradual cessation of industrial farming in cages in the EU, and more than half would vote for a politician who advocates this position. Millions of animals each year in Europe spend their lives or parts of them confined in cages. Cage farming affects laying hens, mother pigs, calves, quails, rabbits, ducks, and geese on industrial farms. ...

An Iranian official has accused Israel of orchestrating an attack on gas pipelines in Iran last week, as reported by The Times of Israel citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Iran's Oil Minister, Javad Owji, asserted that the aim was to disrupt gas supplies to households but claimed that Iranian authorities swiftly countered the plot, resulting in only minor damage to several pipes. Minister Owji disclosed the occurrence of twin explosions on gas pipelines during an interview with state TV... Читать дальше...

In a series of unfortunate events on Wednesday morning, two chain accidents unfolded within a span of just 20 minutes near the exit of Sofia, leaving authorities scrambling to respond. According to reports from the Center for Emergency Medical Assistance relayed to BNR, the first collision occurred at the roundabout leading to Bankya, involving three cars. While one driver, a 51-year-old man, opted out of medical examination, another driver sustained whiplash injuries but declined hospitalization. Читать дальше...

In response to escalating tensions in the Red Sea, the US Central Command has taken decisive action in Yemen, destroying a surface-to-air missile launcher in Houthi-controlled areas. The operation, which occurred around 5 pm on February 19, aimed to ensure the safety of commercial and coalition ships navigating the region. According to a statement from the US Central Command, despite the destruction of the launcher, one additional anti-ship ballistic missile was launched at 6:40 pm, fortunately... Читать дальше...

The leader of GERB, Boyko Borisсov, stated that early elections "2 in 1" in Bulgaria are a logical conclusion of the so-called non-coalition between his party and their “partners” from We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (WCC-DB). He commented on the memorandum proposed by WCC-DB for management after the rotation. The document includes several main aspects - filling and distribution of regulators, electing the members of the anti-corruption commission, security services, measures to increase... Читать дальше...

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has urged law enforcement agencies to deploy armed patrols on the streets of the country's cities to bolster public safety, according to Reuters reports. During a meeting with top security agencies, Lukashenko emphasized the importance of ensuring citizens' safety both at home and in public spaces. While acknowledging a decline in the overall crime rate, Lukashenko expressed concerns about the potential rise of "extremist" crimes within Belarus. ...

Renowned investigative journalist Christo Grozev, known for his work with Bellingcat, has launched an inquiry into the untimely demise of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Grozev, in an interview with Meduza, expressed skepticism regarding the Russian authorities' stance on Navalny's death. Reflecting on Navalny's potential political future, Grozev shared insights from his interactions with sources, indicating a widespread sentiment of support for Navalny's presidential candidacy among some... Читать дальше...

Tensions escalated in Albania as anti-government protests erupted into clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in the capital city of Tirana. Thousands of supporters of the opposition Democratic Party converged outside the parliament building, demanding the immediate release of party leader Sali Berisha, who has been under house arrest since December 31 on charges of corruption. The 79-year-old Berisha, a former prime minister who served from 2005 to 2013, faces allegations of abuse of... Читать дальше...

Cheating your way into winning has never been an admirable thing. In fact, the punishment is always so bad that you would have wished you didn't. However, punishment has never deterred men from being dishonest. ...

Today, in the center of Sofia, a protest will take place following the release from court of the 37-year-old man accused in the death of 15-year-old Filip Arsov. The accused Peter Todorov struck the 15-year-old boy on "Gurko" street in the capital at the beginning of September last year. Peter Todorov is charged with causing death through intentional traffic violations....